Federal Justice Juan Merchan recently reprimanded Trump’s attorney, Todd Blanche, for repeatedly interrupting him during the trial concerning hush-money payments. Trump’s attorney kept interrupting and emphasizing Trump’s busy calendar, but the judge wasn’t having any of it. This provoked him to rebuke the attorney, saying, “Stop interrupting me!”
The trial revolved around allegations of hush-money payments made to adult film star– Stormy Daniels, who claimed to have had affairs with Trump. During the two-hour hearing, Judge Merchan cautioned Blanche not to repeat arguments already presented in previous filings. He also advised against raising complaints about the former president’s busy schedule.
“This should not happen in this country,” Blanche said towards the end of the hearing. He added that Trump should be on the presidential campaign trail instead of sitting in a Manhattan courtroom for two months.
“What’s your legal argument?” Merchan asked with an impatient tone. “Do you have a legal argument?” Instead of Blanche to respond with concrete legal arguments, he said, “That is my legal argument.”
ALSO READ: Nikki Haley Warns Trump’s Court Cases Will Doom Republicans in the Coming Elections
At that point, Mechan was visibly frustrated by the interruptions and quickly shut down the attempts to derail the proceedings. “That is not a legal argument. I’ll see you March 25,” Merchan said before standing up and leaving for his chambers. The Judge also added that the trial would last six weeks.
After the Judge dismissed Blanche’s motion to dismiss the case, Blanche raised concerns about the trial date. He argued that the date placed Trump in an “impossible situation” due to his numerous criminal and civil court cases.
POLL — Should Donald J. Trump Be Allowed to Run for Office?
However, Merchan stated that the case had been earlier suspended because Trump appealed on the basis that he should be immune from prosecution. He emphasized that “it would have been a waste of time” to discuss scheduling matters during that period.
“You don’t have a trial date in Georgia. You don’t have a trial date in Florida,” Merchan told the lawyer. “Stop interrupting me, please,” Merchan told Blanche as he tried to push back during the hearing. When Blanche attempted to return a different deadline before the trial, prosecutors were adamant about not allowing flexibility.
ALSO READ: Will Trump Win His Immunity Fight Now That He Has Gone to the Supreme Court?
“I think at some point we all have to realize that this case is moving to trial on March 25,” Joshua Steinglass, an attorney at the Manhattan district attorney’s office, said. When Blanche tried to complain more about Trump’s heavy caseload, Merchan shut him down again. “Mr. Blanche, please have a seat.”
The court hearing marked the last in-person conference between the lawyers and judges before next month’s trial. The trial is slated to be the first of Trump’s criminal cases before a jury.
Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, alleges that Trump falsified business documents to conceal hush-money payments to Stormy Daniels. Ms. Daniels had claimed she had an affair with Trump before the 2016 election.
Additionally, Trump is facing two criminal trials regarding his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia and Washington, D.C. Furthermore, he has a pending criminal case in Florida concerning his handling of government records upon leaving the presidency.
You Might Also Like:
Trump Attorney Accuses Prosecutor of Perjury During Disqualification Hearing
“I Don’t Think He Should Be President,” Nikki Haley Condemns Trump Ahead of State’s Primary
Nikki Haley Warns Trump’s Court Cases Will Doom Republicans in the Coming Elections
Report Predicts Trump Will Likely Run Out of Legal Defense Funds By Summer
Apple Releases iOS 17.4 Beta 3 With Improved Features to Public Beta Testers
